Jamaica: Pryce wins 400m, Nugent 2nd in 100m hurdles
EUGENE – The final day of USATF and Jamaica championships produced four victories for Arkansas and athletes who train in Fayetteville. Razorbacks Jaydon Hibbert and Nickisha Pryce claimed titles in Kingston while Shamier Little and Tara Davis-Woodhall won their respective events at Hayward Field.
During the USATF U20 Championships, also held at Hayward Field in Eugene, incoming Razorback freshman Shawnti Jackson won the 200m title in a meet record of 22.48 (0.0 wind) over a 22.82 by runner-up Elise Cooper. The previous meet record of 22.49 was set in 2014 by Kaylin Whitney.
On the all-time high school list, Jackson ranks equal No. 4 performer and performance with Tamari Davis and is equal No. 3 with just outdoor marks. On the U.S. U20 all-time list, Jackson ranks equal No. 7 with Davis.
Silver medal efforts included Ackera Nugent and Rojé Stona in Jamaica with Sandi Morris earning her fifth trip to a World Outdoor Championship, and eighth overall when including indoor. Bronze medals were earned by Ryan Brown in Kingston and Elias Schreml in Germany.
Hibbert dominated the triple jump as he bounded out to a distance of 58-0.25 (17.68) in the fourth round with teammate Brown finishing third at 52-7.25w (16.03w). Runner-up to Hibbert was Jordan Scott with a mark of 54-10.75 (16.73), also from the fourth stanza.
Pryce set a career best of 50.21 in winning the 400m title in Jamaica, improving her standing at No. 3 on the UA all-time list. She bettered a field that included Janieve Russell (50.76) and Candice McLeod (51.01) as medalists while Razorback teammate Joanne Reid placed seventh in 51.99.
This marks the eighth career best effort by Pryce this outdoor season in 11 races. She entered the outdoor campaign with a previous PR of 53.41 in college and 53.35 from high school.
In total, the Arkansas women’s 400m crew had five individuals advance to the final in three different countries championship meets. In addition to the victory by Pryce, Britton Wilson finished as runner-up in the USATF with Rosey Effiong fifth.
At the British Championships in Manchester, Amber Anning produced another outdoor PR of 51.62 to place fourth in the 400m final, earning a spot in the relay pool for the World Championships.
Little, a volunteer assistant at Arkansas, cruised to victory in the 400m hurdles as she withheld the challenge from Delilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell. Little won in 53.34, her first USATF title since 2018, with Muhammad runner-up in 53.53 and Cocokrell third at 54.24.
Also racing in the 400m hurdle final was Razorback Madison Langley-Walker, who placed seventh in 56.94.
Davis-Woodhall, who trains with Arkansas men’s associate head coach Travis Geopfert, won the women’s long jump with a mark of 22-6.5 (6.87) over a 22-4.5 (6.82) by Quanesha Burks. Taliyah Brooks, runner-up in the heptathlon earlier in the week, had a leap of 20-1 (6.12) place 13th.
Nugent ran 12.67, with a -1.9 wind, as the silver medalist in the Jamaican 100m hurdle final, as Megan Tapper edged her for the win with a 12.64 while Danielle Williams finished third in 12.82.
Morris cleared 15-1.5 (4.61) and retired from the competition while Katie Moon attempted to break the American record of 16-4.75 (5.00) held by Morris. Moon won with a height of 16-0.75 (4.90), and missed three attempts at 16-5.25 (5.01)
Stona, a silver medalist in the discus on Saturday, collected a second silver medal with a 62-2.5 (18.96) in the shot put.
Racing in Kassel, Germany, Elias Schreml finished third in a tactical 1,500m which had an array of position changes throughout the final. Schreml posted a time of 3:47.60 as he held off a challenge from Timo Benitz, fourth in 3:47.71.
“The race was different from what I’m used to in the USA,” noted Schrml. “It was much more tactical. I noticed that I can rely on my final sprint. I am very happy with the placement.
“I didn’t come here with any expectations because my season in the USA started back in March. I just wanted to take part in another competition here.”
The shot put competition in Eugene went to Ryan Crouser with a heave of 75-0 (22.86) while Razorback Jordan West hit a mark of 63-9 (19.43) to place 14th.
In the high jump, a 7-3 (2.21) clearance placed Darryl Sullivan fifth while a 7-1 (2.16) effort by Kason O’Riley had him finishing in a three-way tie for seventh.
Racing in the 5,000m, a pair of Arkansas alums placed 15th and 16th with Katie Izzo running 15:32.61 while Taylor Werner clocked 15:36.06.
Tai Brown and Tre’Bien Gilbert raced in the semifinals of the 110m hurdles, placing 10 and 13 overall with times of 13.37 and 13.62. The last time qualifier for the final was 13.30.
